Kobe na Sungura

The poem Kobe na Sungura was composed by Ahmed Sheikh Nabhany who resides in Mombasa. It is based on the well-known folk tale about the race run by the Tortoise and the Hare, familiar to the children of the world. The translation is by TJH with the help of a translation by Jan Feidel of New York who kindly shared his work.

The original without translation appeared in Umbuji wa Kiwandeo, a collection of Nabhany’s poetry edited by Ibrahim Noor Shariff and published by the East African Publishing House in 1985. Presented here with the permission of the author.

Kobe na Sungura

Tortoise and Hare

1. Walitaka mashindano, kobe na mwende sungura

They wanted a competition, Tortoise and his friend Hare

Wakafanya maagano, mambo yakawa imara

They agreed, and so things were set firmly in place

Wakangoja mapambano, nani wa kutia fora.

They waited for the struggle, who would be the winner

2. Wakaalika mwituni, wanyama wakawambiya

They invited the animals of the forest, and told them

Wasibaki hayawani, siku wakiingojeya

Not one beast should remain behind, waiting for it (the race)

Watizame ushindani, watakaokukimbiya.

So they might see the contest and those who will run.

3. Hapo wakakusanyika, simba na punda miliya

Then lions and zebras gathered together

Faru ndovu wakatoka, t‘ui na nyati pamoya

Rhinos and elephants came out, along with leopards and buffalo

Vyura p’aa hata nyoka, hakuna alobakiya

Frogs, gazelles, even snakes, there was no one who remained behind.

4. Amri yalipotoka, washindani kukimbiya

When the command came for the competitors to run

Sungura akishopoka, nyuma hakuangaliya

Once Hare sprang forth, he never looked back

Na kobe kasingirika, kiyandama yake ndiya.

And Tortoise rolled along, going along his way.

5. Kitunguwe akifika, katikati kapumuwa

Upon reaching half way Hare took a rest

T‘iyati akapomoka, kwa mbiyo akaikuwa

He collapsed on the ground (but) as for the race he was in command

Dharau zikamshika, kobe havuti khatuwa.

Scorn took hold of him, Tortoise isn’t taking any steps.

6. Kobe kazi akashika, na bidii akatiya

Tortoise held to his task, and put effort (into it)

Katikati akafika, sungura meilaliya

He arrived half way, (where) Hare was fast asleep

Wala yeye hakuchoka, safari kaendeleya

Nor was he tired, and went on with his journey

7. Kitunguwe kizunduka, fududu mesikiliya

When Hare awoke with a start, Tortoise had already arrived (and gone)

Akakimbiya haraka, kwa kasi akit’upiya

And so off in a rush he ran, pushing himself quickly into high gear

Kobe nae amefika, ushindi kaipatiya.

But Kobe had already arrived and secured victory for himself.

8. Kwa wot‘e wakatamka, wanyama wakamwambiya

Everyone there declared, all the animals said to him

Kifuvu mayondi teka, salama kusikiliya

Tortoise, laugh, you have safely arrived

Ubele umeushika, kuongoza yako ndiya.

You have come in first, to be a leader (to lead) is your way.

9. Na medo umeishika, sungura hajatokeya

And you have reached your goal, Hare has not yet appeared

Kwa sut‘e tumeridhika, mk’oni kusikiliya

As for us we all agree, you have reached the finish line

Umeshinda kwa hakika, nasi tumeshuhudiya.

You have certainly won, and we have witnessed it.

10. K’ongole ndako mwendani, kwa bidii ulotiya

Congratulations are yours, O friend, for the effort you made

Kitunguwe yafaani, mbiyo alozikimbiya

As for Hare, what good was the speed with which he ran

Kiburi na taraghani, hazikumsaidiya.

Arrogance and boastfulness did not help him.

11. Sungura kahuzunika, pumzi akizifuwa

Hare was sad, as he panted away

Mai yakisha mwagika, ni taabu kuyazowa

Once water is spilled, it is difficult to mop it up

Taratibu kaondoka, na matozi akitowa.

Slowly he left, with tears flowing.

Kobe na Sungura

chupa

[v. i.]

Jump down from above, jump from branch to branch in a tree, etc. (FJ).

Be in control of oneself, have power over; see –jiweza, {< -ji- + kuwa ‘to be’} (TJH); T‘iyati akapomoka, kwa mbiyo akaikuwa He collapsed on the ground (but) as for the race he was in command (ASN-KS5).

ilaliya

[v. refl. appl.]

Be in a deep asleep, be fast asleep (TJH). St. –jilalia; See St. –lala (FJ). Katikati akafika, sungura meilaliya, He arrived half way, (where) Hare was fast asleep (ASN-KS6).

ipatiya

[v. refl. appl.]

Get for oneself. See St. –jipatia (TJH). Kobe nae amefika ushindi kaipatiya, But Kobe had already arrived and secured victory for himself (ASN-KS7).

it‘upiya

[v. refl. appl.]

Rush oneself into action [TJH]. See St. –jichupia; –tupia. Akakimbiya haraka kwa kasi akit’upiya, And then off in a rush he ran, pushing himself at high speed (ASN-KS7).

k’ongole

[n. 9/10]

Congratulations (TJH). See hongera, pongezi (FJ). K’ongole ndako mwendani kwa bidii ulotiya, Congratulations are yours, Oh friend, for the effort you put in to it (ASN-KS10).

Water (TJH). See maji (FJ). Mai yakisha mwagika, ni taabu kuyazowa, Once water is spilled, it is difficult to mop it up (ASN-KS11).

mbiyo

[n.9/10]

Race, running fast (TJH). See St. mbio (FJ). Kitunguwe yafaani, mbiyo alozikimbiya, As for Hare, what good was the speed with which he ran (ASN-KS10). Note use of plural relative pronoun in verb alozikimbiya agreeing with mbiyo.

medo

[n. 9/10]

Goal (TJH). See mede (inv.) But (but de jeu), la pierre etc., qui marque le but (Sx). Na medo umeishika, sungura hajatokeya; And you have reached the goal, Hare has not yet appeared (ASN-KS9). Ar.

mk’o

[n. 3]

Finish line (?) (TJH). Not in Sx, FJ. Kwa sut‘e tumeridhika, mk’oni kusikiliya, As for us all we agree, you have reached the finish line (ASN-KS9).

mshindani/wa-

[n. 1/2]

Competitor (TJH). See –shindana (FJ). Amri yalipotoka, washindani kukimbiya; Sungura akishopoka, nyuma hakuangaliya, When the command came for the competitors to run; spring forth Hare never looked back (ASN-KS4).

Together, in the company with (< pa– + –moya ‘one place’) (TJH). See St. pamoja (FJ). Faru ndovu wakatoka, t‘ui na nyati pamoya, Rhinos and elephants came out, along with leopards and buffalo (ASN-KS3).

Be happy, be content, be satisfied, be in accord, be in agreement (TJH). See radhi (FJ). Kwa sut‘e tumeridhika, mk’oni kusikiliya, As for us all we agree, you have reached the finish line (ASN-KS9).

shika ubele

[v. tr.]

Come in first, be first in a race; See ubele (TJH). Ubele umeushika, kuongoza yako ndiya, You have come in first, to be a leader (to lead) is your way (ASN-KS8).

shika medo

[v. tr.]

Reach one’s goal, get a goal (TJH). See mede (inv.) But (but de jeu), la pierre etc., qui marque le but (Sx). Na medo umeishika, sungura hajatokeya; And you have reached the goal, Hare has not yet appeared (ASN-KS9). Ar.

sikiliya

[v. intns.]

Arrive, get to a place (TJH). See St. –fikilia (ND si : SD fi). Sx identifies –sikiliya as a synonym for St. –fika in Amu and Tikuu. Kitunguwe kizunduka, fududu mesikiliya, When Hare awoke with a start, Tortoise had already arrived (and gone on) (ASN-KS7).

Rush along, etc. (TJH). See –chupa jump down from above, jump from branch to branch in a tree, etc.; -chupia move quickly, rush, dash, gallop (FJ). Akakimbiya haraka, kwa kasi akitupiya, And then off in a rush he ran, pushing himself quickly at high speed (ASN-KS7).

tia fora

[v. i.]

Win in a game, succeed in an undertaking, i.e. a particular task of work (FJ). Wakangoja mapambano, nani wa kutia fora, They waited for the struggle, who would be the winner (ASN-KS1).

tiya

[v. tr.]

Put, place. See St. –tia (FJ). Kobe kazi akashika, na bidii akatiya, Tortoise held to his task, and put effort into it (ASN-KS6).

Rivalry, competition, emulation, contest, fighting (FJ). Watizame ushindani, watakaokukimbiya, So they might see the contest and those who will (want to) run (ASN-KS2).

vuta khatuwa

[v. tr.]

Take steps, make tracks, move along (TJH). See St. –vuta (FJ). Dharau zikamshika, kobe havutikhatuwa, Scorn took hold of him, Tortoise isn’t taking any steps (ASN-KS5).

wa imara

[v. i.]

Be set, be established, be firm, be fixed in place (TJH). See imara (FJ). Wakafanya maagano, mambo yakawa imara, They made a pact, and so everything was firmly set (ASN-KS-1).

watakaokukimbiya

[infl. v.]

See St. Watakao kukimbia. Normally the infinitival marker ku is dropped in St. Sw. constructions. Watizame ushindani, watakaokukimbiya, So they might see the contest and those who will run (ASN-KS2).

yafaani

[infl. v.]

See St. Yafaa nini? Of what use is it, of what good is it, what is it good for? See –faa (FJ). Kitunguwe yafaani, mbiyo alozikimbiya, As for Hare, what good was the speed with which he ran? (ASN-KS10).

Note: Though many of the lexical forms which Nabhany uses are Northern Dialect forms (e.g. t‘ui “leopard” and -sikiliya “arrive”), he also uses Southern Forms (e.g. vyura KS-3 which in ND would be zura “frogs”)